As a former Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) pastor now dedicated to preaching the pure gospel under the New Covenant, I must address one of the most outrageous and historically baseless claims perpetuated by Ellen G. White and uncritically repeated by the SDA institution: the assertion that the Pope is the Little Horn of Daniel 7 and the 666 Beast of Revelation 13.
This claim is not only exegetically flawed and historically reckless, it's also a form of theological slander. While I strongly disagree with many Roman Catholic doctrines, I cannot, in good conscience, accuse their Pope of being the 666 Beast when the Scriptures simply don't support it. We must read the Bible in its proper context, rather than force it to fit sensationalist assumptions rooted in 19th-century paranoia.
Daniel 7: The Little Horn Unveiled
Let's start with Daniel 7, where the prophet describes four great beasts emerging from the sea, symbolizing four kingdoms. The terrifying fourth beast has ten horns, among which arises the infamous qeren ze'ira (קֶרֶן זְעֵירָה), or "Little Horn." This horn uproots three others, speaks arrogantly, persecutes the saints, and attempts to change times and laws.
SDA teaching, spoon-fed by Ellen G. White herself, insists this Little Horn represents the Papacy. White wrote in The Great Controversy:
“The little horn is a symbol of the papacy, which arose from the ruins of the Roman Empire. Its rise and work are clearly foretold in prophecy, and history bears witness to the fulfillment.” (The Great Controversy, p. 439)
However, this interpretation fundamentally violates Daniel's historical and literary context. Daniel was writing to Jews suffering under pagan oppression, not to 19th-century Adventists fantasizing about a Vatican conspiracy. The ten horns clearly represent ten kings (Daniel 7:24), and the Little Horn emerges during the Roman Empire's time, not centuries later. There's no need for time travel or theological gymnastics here.
Historical evidence overwhelmingly points to Emperor Nero as the figure who fits the Little Horn's profile perfectly. Nero ruled during the latter part of the first century and was infamous for his brutal persecution of Christians. He certainly spoke arrogant things, executed saints like Peter and Paul, and his reign from AD 64 to AD 68—a period of fierce persecution ending with his suicide—perfectly aligns with the "time, times, and half a time" mentioned in Daniel 7:25.
The first-century Jewish historian Josephus, in The Wars of the Jews (2.13.1), vividly describes Nero’s madness and cruelty:
“Now Nero’s cruelty did not only extend to strangers or those not related to him by blood, but also to his nearest relations. He murdered his own mother, and later his wife, and filled Rome with the blood of the innocent.”
Josephus further details how Nero terrorized the Jewish people and how his policies ignited the Jewish-Roman War. This behavior clearly aligns with the Little Horn who “devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled what was left” (Daniel 7:7).
The early Christian historian Eusebius, in his Ecclesiastical History (Book 2, Chapter 25), explicitly confirms Nero as the church's first great persecutor:
“When the blood of Paul and Peter had been shed, Nero was the first who displayed himself as the great enemy of God. He began the persecution against the Christians with such rage that even the Roman citizens themselves grew weary of his bloodlust.”
Eusebius continues:
“Under Nero, incredible scenes of slaughter were opened against the disciples of Christ. The flames of persecution were fanned by his desire to destroy the name of Christian from the earth.”
The evidence couldn't be clearer. Eusebius, writing in the early fourth century, explicitly names Nero as the first persecutor of Christians and calls him the "enemy of God." His identification with the Beast who waged war against the saints is unmistakable.
Revelation 13: The Number of a Man
Now let's turn to Revelation 13, where the number 666 is introduced. The SDA interpretation, echoing Ellen White’s obsession with the Papacy, attempts to force the title "Vicarius Filii Dei" into 666 using Roman numerals. But this is a cheap trick, not sound exegesis.
Ellen White boldly claimed:
“This giant power [the Papacy], represented in Revelation 13, is the same as the little horn of Daniel 7. It is the papal power that has changed the Sabbath and will enforce its mark in the last days.” (The Great Controversy, p. 439)
This is a bold assertion, yet it's entirely unscriptural. Revelation 13:18 plainly states:
“Let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred sixty six.”
The Greek phrase arithmos gar anthropou estin (ἀριθμὸς γὰρ ἀνθρώπου ἐστίν) literally translates to “it is the number of a man.” Not a system. Not a church office. A specific man.
When the name Neron Kaisar (Nero Caesar) is spelled in Hebrew letters (נרון קסר) and the numerical value of each letter is calculated using Hebrew gematria, it adds up to precisely 666:
נ (nun) = 50
ר (resh) = 200
ו (vav) = 6
ן (final nun) = 50
ק (qoph) = 100
ס (samekh) = 60
ר (resh) = 200
Total = 666
Is this a coincidence? Absolutely not. Nero not only fits the timeline and brutality described in Revelation 13, but his very name, encoded in Hebrew, provides the exact number John instructs us to calculate. This isn't sensationalism; it's what the text says. This is sound biblical hermeneutics supported by historical and lexical evidence.
Furthermore, Revelation was written during the reign of Rome, under the shadow of intense persecution. The beast rising from the sea is none other than the Roman Empire itself, and the man behind the number is Nero Caesar. No pope had even existed yet as a global authority. The office of the bishop of Rome was still in its infancy, without any worldwide power or influence.
Pinning 666 on the Pope is not just bad theology; it's irresponsible exegesis. It's a product of Ellen White’s theological fantasy, not the result of honest Bible study. Let's call it what it is: a recycled Protestant accusation wrapped in 19th-century superstition.
The True Focus of the Gospel
Dear friends, the truth isn't determined by how shocking a claim sounds, but by how well it aligns with Scripture. When we strip away the layers of tradition, false prophecy, and fear-based preaching, we see that Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 aren't pointing fingers at a pope centuries later. They're describing real events and real people within the historical context of the early church's suffering.
As a servant of the New Covenant, I stand firm on this truth: Jesus is reigning now. His kingdom is established, and Satan is defeated. The Gospel is moving forward. There’s no need for apocalyptic scare tactics that demonize entire religious offices. Let's preach Christ crucified and risen, not conspiracies crafted by a woman whose own failed prophecies and plagiarism disqualify her as a spiritual guide.
The Little Horn in Daniel 7 is Nero. The 666 is Nero. The gospel is about Christ, not Catholic popes, not institutional paranoia, and certainly not Ellen White’s hallucinations.
To accuse the Pope of being the 666 without biblical support is not discernment; it is defamation. And the Spirit of truth does not bear false witness.
The Bible speaks clearly. We just need the courage to let it speak for itself.
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